4 first-timers will start NBA All-Star game in fan vote

NEW YORK -- Stephen Curry, Kevin Love, Paul George and Kyrie Irving have all been voted NBA All-Stars, putting four first-time starters in the Feb. 16 game in New Orleans.

Kobe Bryant was elected by fans to his 16th All-Star game, second-most in NBA history, but this one is shaping up as a game for the next generation.

Curry will join him in the Western Conference backcourt, with Love in the frontcourt along with Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and the Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin.

LeBron James was the leading vote-getter with 1.4 million votes and will be joined in the Eastern Conference team by Miami teammate Dwyane Wade. George, who has led Indiana to the league's best record, and New York's Carmelo Anthony are the other East forwards, and Irving will start at guard.

"Hey, I'm popular now," Love joked. "It's very humbling to me to be starting in the All-Star game. I tip my hat to the fans in the Twin Cities and all over Minnesota and beyond."

The four first-time starters are all 25 or younger. Curry went to All-Star weekend as a kid when his father, Dell, competed in the 3-point contest, and now he'll finally get to play in the game.